Mounting means for circuit breakers



1956 H. D. DORFMAN ETAL 2,733,321

MOUNTING MEANS FOR CIRCUIT BREAKERS Filed June 14, 1952 WITNESSES:

INVENTORS Hiller D. Dorfmcn and Melvin Bingenheimer.

ATTORNE United States Patent 2,733,321 MOUNTING MEANS FOR CIRCUIT BREAKERS Hiller D. Dorfman and Melvin Bingenheimer, Beaver, Pa., assignors to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 14, 1952, Serial No. 293,578 14 Claims. (Cl. 200-168) This invention relates to circuit breakers and more particularly to mounting devices for removably supporting a circuit breaker on a panel.

An object of the invention is to provide a mounting device for removably supporting a circuit breaker on a panel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mounting device for removably supporting a circuit breaker on a panel without the circuit breaker being positively fastened to the mounting device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a snapon mounting device for mounting a circuit breaker on a panel so that the breaker handle is accessible from the front of the panel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a snap-on mounting device for rigidly supporting a circuit breaker on a panel from which the circuit breaker is readily removable for making electrical connections to the breaker or for inspection and/or replacement.

The invention, both as to structure and operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following detailed description thereof when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

in said drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the mounting device.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a circuit breaker mounted on the mounting device.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view showing the manner of inserting a. circuit breaker in the mounting device.

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view showing a circuit breaker supported in the mounted device.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the snap-on mounting device or bracket, indicated numeral 11, comprises a rigid plate 13 to which is attached by any suitable means a generally U-shaped spring member 15. The spring member 15 has two spaced side portions 17 joined at each end by integral leg portions 19 and yoke portions 21 by which the spring member 15 is secured to the plate 13 by rivets 14. While the spring member 15 is illustrated as being U-shaped with the yoke end portions secured to the plate 13, the side portions 17 could obviously be individual members with each independently secured to the plate 13 and function in the same manner. It Will also be obvious that the resilient member 15 or the side portions 17 could be mounted directly on the rear of a panel to removably support the circuit breaker without the plate 13. Each of the side members 17 is provided with projections 23 which extend toward the plate 13 but terminate a predetermined distance from the plate. The plate 13 is provided with a central opening 25 that is smaller than the circuit breaker through which the front portion or handle portion of a circuit breaker is adapted to project and mso tapped holes 27 for receiving fastening means such as screws.

A circuit breaker of the type adaptedto be mounted in the mounting device 11 is indicated generally at 29 (Figs.

generally by the reference Patented Jan. 31, 1956 2 2, 3 and 4). provided with laterally extending projections 31 disposed dicated at 33 and the projections 31 are each provided with a shoulder portion 35.

The circuit breaker 29 shown in full lines at the right of Fig. 3 is adapted to be inserted in the bracket 11 between the spaced side portions 17 of the spring member 15 either before or after the mounting device is mounted on a panel a portion of which is indicated at 37 (Figs. 3 and 4). The left portion of Fig. 3 shows the breaker at 29a in dot and dash lines inserted in the snap-on mounting bracket. In order to insert the breaker in the mounting bracket the side portions to receive the projections 31 therebetween and the breaker is then inserted until the flat surfaces 33 on the breaker housing are in contact with the plate 13. In this position the spring projections 23, due to their resiliency, snap in back of the pro ections 31 on the breaker housing so that the side portions 17 of the including projections 23, lie of the housing (as shown breaker rigidly in place.

The circuit breaker is provided with terminals 36, disposed one at each end of the breaker, for connecting the breaker in an electrical circuit and each of the terminals U-shaped spring member, flat against the side walls in Fig. 4), and hold the shoulders 35 of the projections 31 bear against the panel as shown at 35a in the left hand portion of Fig. 3.

The circuit breaker is readily removable from the bracket 11 by merely springing the spring projections 23 outwardly far enough to clear the projections 31 on the housing after which the breaker is slipped out from between the sides 17 of the spring member.

The shape of the spring member provides a long spring action but when the circuit breaker is in place the projections 31 on the breaker housing are firmly held by the ends of the spring projections 23 without any spring action. The snap-on mounting may readily beinstalled at the rear or which have no rear mounting surface.

While the invention has been disclosed in accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, it is to be understood that various changes in the structural details thereof may be made without departing from the spirit 4 of the invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. A circuit breaker mounting device comprising a fiat rigid member having an opening therein smaller than said breaker for receiving a portion of a circuit breaker, a generaily U-shaped resilient member secured to said fiat rigid member and having spaced resilient side portions for receiving the circuit breaker therebetween, said resilient member being electrically insulated from the circuit, and said resilient side portions upon the inser tion of a circuit breaker therebetween snapping behind lateral projections on opposite sides of said circuit breaker to firmly hold said circuit breaker in place.

2. A circuit breaker mounting device comprising a flat rigid member having an opening therein smaller than said circuit breaker for receiving a portion of a circuit breaker, a generally U-shaped resilient member secured to said fiat rigid member and having spaced resilient side portions extending at right angles to said fiat rigid memher for receiving the circuit breaker therebetween, and said resilient side portions upon the insertion of a circuit breaker therebetween snapping behind lateral projections on opposite sides of said circuit breaker to firmly hold said circuit breaker in place.

3. A circuit breaker mounting device comprising a rigid plate member having an opening therein smaller than said circuit breaker for receiving a portion of a circuit breaker, a generally U-shaped resilient member secured to said rigid plate member and having spaced resilient side portions for receiving the circuit breaker therebetween, and said resilient side portions upon the insertion of a circuit breaker therebetween snapping behind lateral projections on opposite sides of said circuit breaker to firmly hold said circuit breaker in place, without said circuit breaker being positively fastened to said mounting device.

4. A circuit breaker mounting device comprising a rigid plate member having an opening therein smaller than said circuit breaker for receiving a portion of a circuit breaker, a generally U-shaped resilient member secured to said rigid plate member and having spaced resilient side portions extending at right angles to said rigid member for receiving the circuit breaker therebetween, said resilient side portions being electrically insulated from the circuit, and said resilient side portions upon the insertion of a circuit breaker therebetween snapping behind lateral projections on opposite sides of. said circuit breaker to firmly hold said circuit breaker in place, without said circuit breaker being positively sccured to said mounting device.

5. A snap-on mounting device for rigidly supporting a circuit breaker comprising a flat rigid member adapted to be mounted on the back of a panel, a resilient member mounted on said fiat rigid member and electrically insulated from said circuit, said resilient member having spaced parallel resilient side portions extending substantially the length of said circuit breaker and adapted to receive a circuit breaker therebetween, and said flat rigid member and said resilient side portions having surfaces thereon for engaging surfaces on said circuit breaker to firmly and positively hold said breaker.

6. A circuit breaker mounting device comprising a rigid plate member, spaced resilient members mounted on one side of said rigid plate member adapted to receive a circuit breaker therebetween, the open spaces between said resilient members at the rear edges thereof permitting insertion of a circuit breaker from the rear, and said resilient members upon the insertion of a circuit breaker therebetween moving into locking engagement with shouldered portions on opposite sides of said circuit breaker to firmly hold said circuit breaker on said rigid plate member.

7. A mounting device for removably supporting a circuit breaker on the back of a panel comprising a rigid plate adapted to be mounted on a panel, spaced resilient members electrically insulated from the circuit and having their ends secured to said plate, said resilient members extending at right angles to said plate and adapted to receive a circuit breaker therebetween, portions of said resilient members between the ends thereof extending toward said plate, and said portions of said resilient members upon the insertion of a circuit breaker there between engaging back of surfaces on said circuit breaker to positively but removably hold said circuit breaker in place.

8. A mounting device for removably supporting a circuit breaker comprising a rigid plate member, spaced spring members mounted on one side of said rigid plate member adapted to removably receive a circuit breaker therebetween, the open space between said spring met bers at the rear edges thereof permitting insertion of a circuit breaker from the rear, said spring member upon the insertion of a circuit breaker therebetween springing into locking engagement with shouldered portions on opposite sides of said breaker to firmly but removably hold said circuit breaker on said rigid plate member.

9. A mounting device for removably supporting a circuit breaker comprising a rigid plate, spaced spring members mounted on said rigid plate and electrically insulated from the circuit, said spring members after being mounted on said plate flexing to permit the insertion of a circuit breaker between them, said spring members upon the insertion of a circuit breaker between them springing into locking engagement with shouldered portions of said circuit breaker to firmiy hold said circuit breaker in said mounting device and said spring members being disengageable from said shouldered portions of said circuit breaker to permit removal of said circuit breaker.

10. A mounting device for removably supporting a circuit breaker comprising a plate member, a U-shapcd spring member mounted on said plate member and adapted to receive a circuit breaker between the sides thereof, said member being electricaliy insulated from the circuit of the breaker, said sides of said spring member upon the insertion of a breaker therebetween springing into locking engagement with portions of said circuit breaker to removably hold said circuit in said mounting device.

11. A mounting device for removably supporting a circuit breaker comprising a plate member, a U-shaped spring member mounted on said plate member and electrically insulated from the circuit, said spring member being adapted to receive a circuit breaker between the sides thereof, said sides of said spring member upon the insertion of a breaker therebetween springing into locking engagement with shouldered portions of said circuit breaker to removably hold said circuit breaker in said mounting device, and said sides of said spring member being capable of being sprung away from said shouldered portions of said breaker to permit removal of said breaker from said mounting device.

12. A circuit breaker comprising a housing having lateral projections on opposite sides thereof, a rigid plate having an opening therein smaller than said circuit breaker for receiving a portion of said circuit breaker, spaced resilient members mounted on said plate adapted to receive said circuit breaker therebetween, and said resilient members upon the insertion of said circuit breaker therebetween moving into locking engagement with said lateral projections to firmly hold said circuit breaker.

13. A circuit breaker comprising a housing having laterally extending portions on opposite sides thereof, terminals on said housing for connecting said breaker in an external circuit, a rigid member having an opening therein smaller than said circuit breaker for receiving a portion of said circuit breaker, spaced resilient members mounted on said rigid member adapted to receive said circuit breaker therebetween, said resilient members upon insertion of said circuit breaker moving into locking enbreaker comprising spaced resilient members mounted on 10 said rigid plate member, the open spaces between said resilient members opposite said plate permitting insertion 6 of a circuit breaker from the rear, said resilient members engaging back of shouldered portions on opposite sides of said housing to firmly hold said circuit breaker in position on said rigid plate member, and said rigid plate member also having openings therein providing access to said terminals.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Johansson Mar. 20, 1945 Chrastina Nov. 21, 1950 

